Playoff Performers to Watch from the South, Group V Region

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the calendar turns to November, the second season begins: playoff football. Below I review each matchup in this specified region within this article's title, highlighting one offensive and one defensive player from each team that I anticipate rising to the occasion when everyone's record resets to 0-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">South, Group V Section</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 Bridgeton @ #1 Toms River North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Bridgeton</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1540496' first='Eric' last='Hilton'], 2025, RB<br><br>106 carries, 810 yards, 7 TD<br>2 receptions, 13 yards</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1513542' first='Jeremiah' last='Russell'], 2026, DB<br><br>49 tackles (28 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 scoop &amp; score, 4 Int, 2 pick-six</td></tr><tr><td><em>Toms River North</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1054133' first='TJ' last='Valerio'], 2025, QB<br><br>93-131, 1683 yards, 19 TD, 2 Int<br>93 carries, 525 yards, 7 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1040416' first='Blaise' last='Boland'], 2025, LB<br><br>71 tackles (17 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Kingsway @ #4 Howell</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Kingsway</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1533535' first='Cole' last='DeNick'], 2027, RB<br><br>72 carries, 523 yards, 11 TD<br>52 tackles (20 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='819159' first='Nicolas' last='Worley'], 2025, LB<br><br>48 tackles (17 solo), 6 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks</td></tr><tr><td><em>Howell</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1539990' first='Vincent' last='Meehan'], 2025, QB<br><br>58-111, 562 yards, 7 TD, 6 Int<br>99 carries, 592 yards, 2 TD<br>48 tackles (16 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 3 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1087674' first='Quincy' last='Shaw'], 2025, DB<br><br>66 tackles (26 solo), 3 tackles for loss<br>9 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD<br>3 receptions, 23 yards</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 Freehold Township @ #3 Hillsborough</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Freehold Township</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1513519' first='Nick' last='Cardone'], 2025, QB<br><br>163-279, 2230 yards, 25 TD, 8 Int<br>87 carries, 230 yards, 5 TD<br>3 solo tackles</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1530261' first='Jake' last='Minniear'], 2025, LB<br><br>93 tackles (52 solo), 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery</td></tr><tr><td><em>Hillsborough</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1005830' first='Jackson' last='Jankowicz'], 2025, RB<br><br>162 carries, 924 yards, 15 TD<br>23 receptions, 338 yards, 3 TD<br>20 tackles (14 solo), 2 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1524421' first='Xander' last='Borowski'], 2025, DL<br><br>61 tackles (23 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 Edison @ #2 Rancocas Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Edison</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='711579' first='Nykier' last='Eato'], 2025, RB<br><br>137 carries, 950 yards, 13 TD<br>5 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD<br>26 tackles (16 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 3 Int<br>4 kickoff returns, 189 yards, 3 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1532324' first='Shaun' last='Garland'], 2026, LB<br><br>43 (23 tackles), 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble<br>23 <br>24 carries, 113 yards, 4 TD<br>18 receptions, 198 yards, 1 TD</td></tr><tr><td><em>Rancocas Valley</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1466331' first='Sayvien' last='Adams'], 2026, QB<br><br>91-154, 1678 yards, 20 TD, 4 Int<br>57 carries, 675 yards, 6 TD<br>1 reception, 11 yards<br>1, two-point conversion<br>4 solo tackles<br>1 kickoff return, 39 yards</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1533565' first='David' last='Ogunsola'], 2027, DL<br><br>67 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 safety</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Central, Group V Section</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 Hunterdon Central @ #1 Washington Township</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Hunterdon Central</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1544672' first='Drew' last='Cella'], 2026, QB<br><br>82-170, 1116 yards, 14 TD, 11 Int<br>70 carries, 231 yards, 3 TD<br>3 solo tackles</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1544673' first='Kasey' last='Kingsley'], 2026, DB<br><br>33 tackles (27 solo), 2 Int</td></tr><tr><td><em>Washington Township</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1466305' first='Colin' last='Beeler'], 2026, RB<br><br>172 carries, 825 yards, 8 TD<br>8 receptions, 48 yards</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='910872' first='Gabe' last='Palaganas'], 2027, DL<br><br>39 tackles (14 solo), 12.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#5 Cherry Hill East @ #4 Southern Regional</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Cherry Hill East</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1000484' first='Denzel' last='Lee'], 2025, RB<br><br>123 carries, 1273 yards, 14 TD<br>3 receptions, 20 yards</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1543925' first='Sean' last='Jamison'], 2025, LB<br><br>104 tackles (58 solo), 8 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 Int</td></tr><tr><td><em>Southern Regional</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='787199' first='Justin' last='Silva'], 2025, RB<br><br>84 carries, 550 yards, 8 TD<br>8 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TD<br>35 tackles (19 solo), 1 tackle for loss<br>1 KOR TD<br>1 PR TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1476842' first='Levi' last='Foote'], 2027, DL<br><br>18 tackles (8 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 scoop &amp; scores</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#6 Cherokee @ #3 Old Bridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Cherokee</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1041986' first='Murad' last='Campfield'], RB, 2025<br><br>196 carries, 1072 yards, 4 TD<br>6 receptions, 65 yards</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1544674' first='Daniel' last='Cruz'], 2026, LB<br><br>28 tackles (7 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 scoop &amp; score</td></tr><tr><td><em>Old Bridge</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1357858' first='Brody' last='Nugent'], 2026, QB<br><br>61-126, 883 yards, 12 TD, 3 Int<br>127 carries, 931 yards, 14 TD<br>3 kick returns, 52 yards<br>3 punt returns, 102 yards, 1 TD<br>1 solo tackle</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1538285' first='Justin' last='Valinotti'], 2026, LB<br><br>112 tackles (78 tackles), 6.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 Int</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#7 Eastern Regional @ #2 Atlantic City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Eastern Regional</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1544675' first='Logan' last='Dawson'], 2025, QB<br><br>92-148, 1231 yards, 12 TD, 7 Int<br>31 carries, 139 yards, 3 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='823164' first='Aidan' last='Travaglini'], 2025, DL<br><br>43 tackles (24 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks</td></tr><tr><td><em>Atlantic City</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1515041' first='Khajuan' last='Roseborough'], 2025, QB<br><br>90-152, 1695 yards, 18 TD, 4 Int<br>62 carries, 555 yards, 7 TD<br>15 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 4 Int, 1 pick-six</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1544678' first='Cornell' last='Davis'], LB, 2026<br><br>29 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 sack</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table -->